Newsletter No. 93

CUHK Newsletter No. 93 19th September 1996 3 In the 1996-97 academic year, several academics assume department headship for the first time. Four of their appointments were endorsed by the University Council before August They are Cai Xiao-qiang (systems engineering and engineering management); Lau Ho-fuk (international business); Joseph W. Y. Lau (surgery); and Samuel Sun (biology). The CUHK Newsletter spoke to the four department heads about their plans and vision. Reports on the three interviews that were conducted in Chinese can be found on the Chinese pages. Presented here is a summary of the views of Prof. Samuel Sun, who talked to us in English. From Biology Student to Chair of the Department ： An Alumnus Returns P rof. Samuel Sun was the first biologist in the world to isolate a plant gene. That was in 1980, and he has since been involved in the field of plant genetic engineering— inserting useful genes into plants to improve their nutritional quality and yield as well as their resistance to insects and virus. A graduate of New Asia College, Prof. Sun was involved in teaching and research in the United States after obtaining his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He rejoined CUHK as professor of biology in December 1995, and was recently appointed chair of the department. Prof. Sun appreciates the time that he has had between joining the University and assuming the chairmanship of his department. He has been able to observe, study and plan, and become more aware of the department's existing strengths and shortcomings. He hopes to introduce the few changes he deems essential in a democratic manner, with discussions and consensus preceding decisions to the greatest extent possible. Top on his agenda of improvement is to enrich the existing curriculum by offering programmes in the more modern specializations. Since j o i n i ng the department, for example, he has initiated and developed with the Department of Biochemistry a degree programme in molecular biotechnology. Plant science, especially plant molecular biology — the area the department is weakest in — will be strengthened, and a specialist in the field will be added to the departmental staff. Prof. Sun is of the opinion that molecular biology and biotechnology cannot be over-emphasized, for these new frontiers of biology can be applied to any area of research — from medicine and agriculture to environmental science. In fact, he nurtures a plan to establish a plant gene centre, the like of which does not yet exist in Hong Kong. The centre is envisaged primarily as a place where useful plant genes can be identified, cloned, and then used in improving the staple foods ofthis region (including rice, soya bean, and selected vegetables). Prof. Sun wants each staff member in the biology department to teach his particular area of interest and specialization so that the teaching can be more motivated and effective. In the field of research too, while respecting diversity, he feels that emphasis and particular focus on issues and needs relevant to Hong Kong, China, and the Asia-Pacific region will yield more beneficial results. He believes that by concentrating upon research relevant to the 'biology' in the East, the department can carve out its own niche. He would also like to reduce the number of teaching hours for the teachers from the current annual average of 75 to 60. This would enable the teachers to have more time for research and other responsibilities. And, to ensure that this does not happen at the cost of quality teaching, the teaching programme will be reviewed and consolidated. Another area Prof. Sun wishes to improve is the student-teacher and student-student relationships. He envisages that the creation of more opportunities for teachers and students to communicate and interact, in addition to classroom and laboratory instruction, will promote better understanding between them. Prof. Sun is looking forward to his tenure as department head. He hopes to make the department a force to be reckoned with, and one that can attract good students. His goal is well-defined 一 to contribute to the University as an alumnus, and improve teaching and research in his department. He hopes to make the biology department as good as the one he considers to be the world's best today 一 that at Stanford, where his son is currently studying. O Shalini Bahadur Servic e to the Communit y and Internationa l Organization s Service • Prof. Yun-wing Sung, professor in the Department of Economics, has been appointed by H E the Governor as a member of the Statistics Advisory Board for two years from 1st June 1996. •Prof. Pak-wai Liu, pro-vice-chancellor, has been nominated by the University to serve as a member of the Review Commission on Allowances for Urban Council Members. •Prof. Joseph C. K. Lee, dean of medicine, has been nominated by the University to serve as a member ofthe Medical Council for one year from 1st August 1996. •Prof. Allan M. Z. Chang, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, has been nominated by the University to serve as a member of the Midwives Board for three years from 5th September 1996. •Prof. Shiu-hung Lee, professor of community medicine, has been nominated by the University to serve as a member of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council and chairman of its Optometrists Board from 1st October 1996. •Prof. Julian A. J. H. Critchley, professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, has been (1) nominated by the University to serve as a member ofthe Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong from 4th July 1996; (2) appointed as a member of the Hong Kong Q-Mark Council of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries from February 1996; (3) appointed as a member of the Drug Advisory Committee of the Hospital Authority. •Prof. Arthur K. C. Li, vice-chancellor, has been invited to serve as an honorary adviser to the Lions Kidneys Educational Centre and Research Foundation for a year from 1996 to 1997. •Prof. Ambrose Y. C. King, pro-vice- chancellor, has been appointed as (1) a member of the Research Grants Council for three years from 1st July 1996; (2) the convener of the Humanities Research Assessment Exercise Panel of the University Grants Committee; (3) a member of the Council of the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong for two years from 20th June 1996. •Prof. Leslie N. K. Lo, dean of education, has been appointed by the Secretary for Education and Manpower as a member of the Board ofEducation for two years from 1st July 1996. •Prof. Rance P. L. Lee, head of Chung Chi College, has been appointed as an external member of the Director's Advisory Committee on Research and Development at the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong for two years from July 1996. •Prof. P. C. Leung, head of New Asia College, has been appointed by the Secretary for Education and Manpower as a member of the Panel of Arbitrators for three years from 1st July 1996. •Prof. Yue-man Yeung, head of Shaw College, has been appointed visiting professor at Fujian Normal University from 3rd July 1996. •Prof. Richard M. W. Ho, registrar, has been re-appointed by the Secretary for Education and Manpower as a member of the Panel of Arbitrators for three years from 1st July 1996. •Prof. Mayching Kao, professor offine arts, has been appointed/re-appointed: •adviser on the Editorial Advisory Board of Culture and Civilization of China, a joint programme ofthe American Council of Learned Societies and Yale University Press, from November 1995; •vice-president of the Foundation for the Conservation and Research of Dunhuang Grottoes in China, from November 1995; •preparatory member of the Chang Shuhong Research Society, Chinese Art Research Academy, from March 1996; •adviser for visual arts by the Regional Council for two years from 1 st April 1996; •external member of the Programme Review and Validation Committee of the Open Learning Institute ofHong Kong for two years from September 1995; •member of the board of the Coutts Contemporary Art Foundation Advisory Committee, Zurich, from May 1996; •academic adviser of Nanjing Museum from July 1995; •research fellow ofZhang Daqian Research Institute, Neijiang, Sichuan, from December 1995; •member of the Course Advisory Committee for the M A degree in Chinese literature, language and culture of Hong Kong Baptist University for the period up to 31st August 1998. •Prof. Joseph W. Y. Lau, professor of surgery, has been elected President of the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong for three years from 7th May 1996. •Prof. Sydney S. C. Chung, professor of surgery, has been elected Censor-in-Chief ofthe College of Surgeons of Hong Kong for three years from 7th May 1996. •Prof. Daniel T. L. Shek, professor in the Department of Social Work, has been invited to serve as a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Psychology. • Dr. Joseph Lau, director of the Centre for Clinical Trials and Epidemiological Research, has been invited to serve as an examiner in the Part I Joint Fellowship Examination (in Clinical Oncology) ofthe Council of the Hong Kong College of Radiologists and the Royal College of Radiologists. •Mr. Hardy S. C. Tsoi, manager of Sir Run Run Shaw Hall, has been appointed by the Director of Education as a member of the Hong Kong School Drama Council for two years from 1st April 1996. Honours •Prof. Arthur K. C. Li, vice-chancellor, has been made an Honorary Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University. • Prof. David Gwilt, professor ofmusic, was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts on 3rd July 1996. (Allinformation in this section is provided by the Information and Public Relations Office. Contributions should be sent direct to that office for registration and verification before publication.)